Dear Parents

Happy new year to all of our families and welcome to Kennedy Baptist College for 2015. In particular, welcome to all of our new families who are joining us for the first time this year. We trust that everyone has had a safe, relaxing and enjoyable holiday and are now ready to commence the new academic year with excitement. Throughout this holiday period work has continued at the College to complete some major projects. This has included:

• The construction of new sheds to garage our new bus fleet. Another new bus has been delivered this week.
• The refurbishment of our auditorium with new floorings and seats.
• The total refurbishment of the auditorium, lower foyer toilet facilities.
• The replacement of two computer laboratories with new desktops

Work has also continued over the past few weeks in preparing and planning great opportunities for all students and we look forward to sharing these throughout the year. Our goal at Kennedy is to equip students to seize these opportunities and strive for greatness in all that they do. After reviewing all events that took place throughout a very busy 2014 we are extremely confident of continuing to provide opportunities for excellence in 2015 and look forward to students embracing all that is on offer in another exciting year.

Year 12 Results
The Class of 2014 produced some pleasing WACE results at the end of last year. It was wonderful to see a number of students achieve the goals they set early in 2014, they are a credit to themselves, their families and the College.
Congratulations to the following students who achieved exceptional ATAR scores:

• Joshua Begho  99.7
• Zoe Fitzgerald  98.45
• Jasveen Kaur Mohar 98.1

Three students received Certificates of Commendation:

• Joshua Begho
• Jasveen Kaur Mohar
• Ellyse – Jade Morrissey

Kennedy was identified as a school with top students in:

• 3A/B Health Studies
• 3A/B Business Management and Enterprise

Kennedy students offered University positions

• 1st Preference: 57%
• Any Preference: 87%

Certainly the class of 2014 produced some outstanding results, however I need to acknowledge that there were also some particularly disappointing results recorded. Our College median ATAR was less than the Western Australian median and these results are something that we are strongly focussing on. Kennedy prides itself on the opportunities provided for students, however we also need our students and parents to be realistic when selecting their academic pathways. Our 2014 results reinforce the College Administration view that too many students are attempting the ATAR pathway and more suitable course selections may have resulted in better results for students. Strategies are currently being developed to address this issue.

Mark Ashby
Principal

As the first day of Term 1 approaches, it is important that everyone is well aware of the details for Monday 2 Feburary to make the commencement of the new school year as effective as possible.

Please note the following details:

• Traffic
  In order to alleviate traffic congestion, Year 8-12 students commence Day 1 Form class at 8.15am and Year 7 students commence at 8.45am.
  
  Year 7 students will begin Day 1 with a Commencement Ceremony in the Auditorium. This arrangement is for Day 1 only.
   
• Time Table
  Year 8-12 timetables for continuing students can be accessed through ConeqtP. Copies of student timetables will also be issued during Form class.
  
  All new students to the College will receive their timetables on Prestart Day Friday 30 January.
   
• Lunch Orders
  The College has a cafeteria where students may purchase breakfast, recess and lunch. We are open from 7.35am for breakfast.
  
  The menu will change from time to time. Parents/students can purchase via online canteen or cash over counter. No orders will be taken after 9AM and ordered lunches will be served first.
  
  Click here for Menu and Our Canteen Online website.
   
• Smartrider
  New students will receive their smartrider around the 2nd or 3rd week of Term 1. They will still be able to use their Smartrider from their previous school in 2014 provided there is sufficient credit on the card.
   
• Upper School Parking
  A reminder to all upper school students that parking is not available for any student vehicles.
   
• Drop off & pick up near St Ives Murdoch Homes
  Please note that the cricket car park on the north side of the Murdoch playing fields is not available for Week 1 of Term 1 due to training commitments for the One Day International World Cup.

As normal classes commence on Monday for Year 8-12 students, any texts, uniforms (including swimming gear) or equipment needed for these classes will be required.

We look forward to a great start for the commencement of 2015 at Kennedy Baptist College.

• Payment Option Form - Important - Please read:
  As any prior financial arrangements made in 2014 are now obsolete, it is important to inform us of your preferred payment method for 2015 which will be made formal by the completion and return of the payment option form.
  Please ensure your payment option form is returned by Friday 6 February.
   
• Unknown Deposit still yet to be identified.
  20/10/2014 with reference as CBA School Fees
  Please contact Mrs Gillian Wood if you had made the above deposit.
   

Welcoming new staff into our College

The start to 2015 brings many exciting changes including the arrival of some new staff members. A total of 22 new administration and teaching staff have joined us with most of them starting the role at start of the term.

Arts Learning Area:

• Miss Alica Webb
• Mrs Susan Ashby

English & Languages Area:

• Mrs Marilyn Myhill

Mathematics Learning Area:

• Mr Geoffrey Thoms
• Mrs Clair Wallace

Humanities Learning Area:

• Ms Melissa Rasmussen
• Mr Liam Austen

Science Learning Area:

• Mr John Owen
• Ms Elizabeth Lourensz - Senior Lab Technician

Health & Physical Education Learning Area: 

• Mr Jonathon Miles
• Mr  Matthew Green
• Mr Greg Wood
• Mr Josh Bond

Technology & Enterprise Learning Area:

• Mr Kyle Hunt

Research & Study Centre:

• Ms Tracy Thillainath
• Mrs Mandy Lun

Student Services:

• Mrs Wendy Wells
• Miss Liz Shanhun
• Mrs Di Hutcheson

Receptionist:

• Mrs Michelle Willans

School Chaplain:

• Mrs Pauline Burgess

Director of Finiance and Resources:

• Mr Vernon Thompson

Mrs Gail Ashton:

We wish to advise our College community that Mrs Gail Ashton (mathematics) will be taking 12 months leave due to illness. We pray that Mrs Ashton will make a speedy recovery.

Farewell

We farewelled the following staff members at the end of 2014:

• Miss Karyn Day
  (Mrs Robyn Sewter will be taking over her role as our Work Experience Co-ordinator)
• Mrs Marie O'Dwyer
• Mrs Nikki Shea
• Mr Ian Willmot (Long Service Leave) - Mr Andrew Arnold will be relieving for 2015
• Mr Scott Britza (Long Service Leave) - Mrs Kym Scanlan will be relieving for Term 1.
• Mrs Cathy Van der Kooij
• Mrs Kate Hayes (Maternity Leave)

The Kennedy Handbook is designed to provide students and the parents of Kennedy Baptist College, with useful information.

Kennedy Handbook is now available online.

Smart Rider cards which display the student photo can now be used at the cafeteria in place of cash to purchase our delicious treats.

Students can top up their cafeteria credit on their Smart Rider before school or during the latter part of the lunch break (1:15 – 1:30pm). If parents prefer to come in and personally upload cafeteria credit, you are welcome anytime between 7.30am and 2:00pm to do this. Credit added to the Smart Rider at the cafeteria will only be made available towards food purchases.

Current students will need to update their Smartriders if they wish to utilise this new facility. This will incur a cost of $5 and can be ordered in the usual way by providing a note of request to Student Services accompanied by the cash.

Please note that Smart Riders without a student photo will not be accepted due to security restrictions and cash can only be used for credit top up.

Cash will still continue to be accepted at Beedawong.

Book covering in the Research and Study Centre will commence Tuesday morning Week 4 (24 February) anytime from 8am.  All welcome, training (if needed) and a cuppa provided.

• Friday 30 January Pre-Start Day
  * Year 7: 10.30am to 2.00pm, Lower Foyer
  * New Years 8-12: 3.00pm-3.45pm, Lower Foyer​
   
• Monday 2 February
  Term 1 Commences at 8.15am for Years 8-12 , 8.45am for Year 7
  Commencement Ceremony for Year 7s , 9.00.am-10.00am, Auditorium
   
• Wednesday, 4 February
  College Assembly
   
• Thursday, 5 February
  Kim Hughes Shield
   
• Friday, 6 February
  Fees & Payment Option form to be returned
• Wednesday, 11 February
  Kim Hughes Shield

  Cambodia Tour Information Evening, 6.00pm - 7.00pm in Staff Lounge

• Friday, 13 February
  Year 12 Ball

• Tuesday, 17 February
  Year 7  2017 Information Evening

• Wednesday, 18 February
  Year 8 Social

Please visit our website for more dates and events.